22908 results about "Rectifier" patented technology

An arrangement is provided for charging a charge storage device by placing the charge storage device in an RF or microwave radiation field. One or more antennas which receive the radiated RF electromagnetic field are placed on the charge storage device. Rectifiers connected to the antennas rectify the received RF electromagnetic field an produce a DC output current which is used to charge the charge storage device. The charge storage device may be a battery or a capacitor and may form an integral part of an electronic device. The same RF field that charges the charge storage device can also be employed to communicate data to transponders which may be associated with computing devices.

A drilling device prevents recurrence of an overload condition after occurrence of the overload condition, thereby improving operability and safety in the drilling device. A motor for rotating a drill is connected to an AC power source through a motor control unit, a current detector, and a power switch. A magnet is also connected to the AC power source through the power switch and a full-wave rectifier. The motor control unit rotationally drives the motor on the basis of a signal sent from a main control unit according to a state in which a motor start switch is on. The main control unit controls the motor control unit to gradually reduce a supply voltage to the motor when the motor becomes overloaded, to gradually increase the voltage to the normal power supply condition when the overload condition is vanished, and to stop power supply to the motor if the overload condition continues for a predetermined period.

An apparatus and method of wirelessly sharing power by an inductive method are provided. The apparatus includes a first battery supplying power; a rectifier supplied with an AC voltage, converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage, and outputs the DC voltage; an inverter supplied with the DC voltage, converts the DC voltage into the AC voltage, and outputs the AC voltage; a power control / conversion unit connected to the rectifier or the inverter and supplying power to charge the first battery or a second battery that is provided in an external device as a power supply for the first battery; and a communication unit communicating with the external device.

An exemplary embodiment provides a current regulator for controlling variable brightness levels for solid state lighting. The current regulator is couplable to a phase-modulating switch, such as a dimmer switch, which is coupled to an AC line voltage. An exemplary current regulator includes a rectifier; a switching power supply providing a first current; an impedance matching circuit; and a controller. The impedance matching circuit is adapted to provide a second current through the phase-modulating switch when a magnitude of the first current is below a first predetermined threshold, such as a holding current of a triac of the phase-modulating switch. The controller is adapted to determine a root-mean-square (RMS) voltage level provided by the phase-modulating switch from the AC line voltage and to determine a duty cycle for pulse-width current modulation by the switching power supply in response to the comparison of the RMS voltage level to a nominal voltage level.

Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer. The parameters of components of the wireless energy transfer system are adjusted to control the power delivered to the load at the device. The power output of the source amplifier is controlled to maintain a substantially 50% duty cycle at the rectifier of the device.

An object is to provide a semiconductor device that is capable of wireless communication, such as an RFID tag, which can transmit and receive individual information without checking remaining capacity of a battery or changing batteries due to deterioration with time in the battery for a drive power supply voltage, and maintain a favorable a transmission / reception state even when electric power of an electromagnetic wave from a reader / writer is not sufficient. The semiconductor device includes a signal processing circuit, a first antenna circuit connected to the signal processing circuit, an antenna circuit group, a rectifier circuit group and a battery connected to the signal processing circuit. The first antenna circuit transmits and receives a signal for transmitting data stored in the signal processing circuit and drives a power supply circuit, and each antenna circuit of the antenna circuit group receives a signal for charging the battery and includes an antenna which has a different corresponding frequency.

A power transmission method used in a high-power wireless induction power supply system consisting of a power-supplying module and a power-receiving module is disclosed. The power-supplying module regulates its output energy by means of frequency modulation and driving power adjustment, enabling the energy to be received by the power-receiving module and transmitted through a power-receiving coil array and a primary resonant capacitor and a secondary resonant capacitor of power-receiving resonance circuit, a synchronizing rectifier, a low-power voltage stabilizer, a high-frequency filter capacitor, a first power switch, a low-frequency filter capacitor and a second power switch of a filter circuit for output to an external apparatus.

A station having a means for receipt of ambient energy from the environment and energizing power storage devices of objects of interest comprising one or more antennae and circuitry for converting said ambient energy into DC power for energizing said power storage devices. The circuitry for converting the ambient energy into DC power may include a rectifier / charge pump. The antenna of the station is tuned to maximize DC energy at the output of the rectifier / charge pump. The station can be used to energize power storage devices including capacitors and batteries that are used in electronic devices, such as cell phones, cameras, PDAs. Various antenna constructions may be employed.

A frequency modulation type wireless power supply and charger system includes a power supply base unit consisting of a first microprocessor, a power circuit, a power switch driver circuit, a first resonant circuit, a first coil, a detection module and a power input interface, and a wireless power supply and charge receiver unit consisting of a secondary coil, a second resonant circuit, a rectifier filter circuit, a detection and protection module, a second microprocessor, a temperature sensor, a charging module and a power output interface and adapted for receiving electrical power from the power supply base unit wirelessly for charging an external electronic device. The detection and protection module of the wireless power supply and charge receiver unit detects the supply of the electrical power, and the second microprocessor sends a feedback signal to the power supply base unit through the signal generator circuit and the second resonant circuit subject to the detection of the detection and protection module for enabling the power supply base unit to control the power switch driver circuit to regulate its output power automatically, thereby minimizing power transmission loss and the load of the internal components of the wireless power supply and charge receiver unit.

A method and a system for self-regulating wireless power transmitted to a wireless power receiver (WPR) are provided. An auto-tuning network is operably coupled within the WPR. The auto-tuning network includes an impedance network that dynamically increases, decreases, or maintains an amount of the received wirelessly transmitted power by detecting changes in a rectifier load disposed in the WPR and / or in a rectifier output voltage in the WPR. The auto-tuning network self-regulates the wireless power received from a wireless power transmitter (WPT) obviating the need for conventional communication messages. The WPT is hence free from a modulator / demodulator block and an out-of-band communication block and operates over a limited operating range to enable a simpler design for passing electromagnetic compliance regulations. The WPR implements a receiver-maximum-power-signature algorithm for enabling the WPT to detect unsupported receivers, configure its operating point and range, and terminate power transmission when not needed by the WPR.

An apparatus and method for using ambient RF power in a portable terminal are provided. In the charging apparatus, an antenna array receives RF signals left derelict in the air, a rectifier rectifies the RF signals to DC voltages, and a power storage stores the DC voltages as power.

This invention relates to a power module for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle including an integrated converter having a rectifier changing AC to DC, a DC / DC converter changing from a first voltage to a second voltage, and a battery storing electrical energy. The integrated converter operates in three modes 1) AC plug-in charging mode, 2) boost mode supplying power from the battery to the electrical bus and 3) buck mode supplying power from the electrical bus to the battery. The integrated converter utilizes the same single inductor during each of the three operating modes to reduce cost and weight of the system.

A power converter comprises a primary switch network coupled to a power source, wherein the primary switch network comprises a plurality of power switches, a controller configured to generate gate drive signals for the plurality of power switches, a secondary rectifier coupled to an output, a first transformer having a first winding coupled to the primary switch network, a second winding coupled to the secondary rectifier and a third winding coupled to the controller and a second transformer having a fourth winding coupled to the primary switch network, a fifth winding coupled to the secondary rectifier and a sixth winding coupled to the controller, wherein a voltage signal from the third winding and / or the sixth winding is processed to provide a feedback of a voltage at the output.

The present disclosure may provide various electric receiver arrangements included in clothing pieces that require electric current to perform tasks, such as warming, cooling and displaying. Suitable wireless power transmission techniques, like pocket forming, may be used to provide the clothing pieces with wireless power. In some embodiments, receivers may include at least one antenna connected to at least one rectifier and one power converter. In other embodiments, receivers including a plurality of antennas, a plurality of rectifiers or a plurality of power converters may be provided. In addition, receivers may include communications components which may allow for communication to various electronic equipment including transmitters.

A variable speed wind turbine employing a rotor connected to a multiplicity of synchronous generators with wound field or permanent magnet rotors. A passive rectifier and an inverter are used for power transfer back to the grid. A Turbine Control Unit (TCU) commands a required generator torque based on rotor speed and power output of the turbine inverters. Torque is controlled by regulating the DC current by control of the inverter. A main-shaft-damping filter is provided by measurement of the DC bus voltage. In high winds the turbine remains at a constant average output power through a constant torque command and a varying pitch command to a rotor pitch servo system. A set point is fixed at the inverter output such that output VAR load is minimized running the turbine at very nearly unity power factor. Dynamic VAR and power factor control is provided by a separate VAR apparatus.

A charging apparatus includes an antenna, a receiver, and a battery. The battery is charged by a harvester, which converts wireless energy sent by antenna to direct current and charges the battery. The harvester includes a sensor coil, a rectifier and voltage regulating filter. The wireless energy is converted by the sensor coil to alternating current (AC). The rectifier is electrically connected to the sensor coil for converting AC to direct current (DC). The voltage regulating filter is electrically connected to the rectifier to regulate DC. The battery can be charged by the wireless charge apparatus.

A variable speed wind turbine employing a rotor connected to a multiplicity of synchronous generators with wound field or permanent magnet rotors. A passive rectifier and an inverter are used for power transfer back to the grid. A Turbine Control Unit (TCU) commands a required generator torque based on rotor speed and power output of the turbine inverters. Torque is controlled by regulating the DC current by control of the inverter. A main-shaft-damping filter is provided by measurement of the DC bus voltage. In high winds the turbine remains at a constant average output power through a constant torque command and a varying pitch command to a rotor pitch servo system. A set point is fixed at the inverter output such that output VAR load is minimized running the turbine at very nearly unity power factor. Dynamic VAR and power factor control is provided by a separate VAR apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rectifier circuit that can suppress deterioration or dielectric breakdown of a semiconductor element due to excessive current. A rectifier circuit of the present invention includes at least a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a diode which are sequentially connected in series in a path which connects an input terminal and one of two output terminals, and a transistor. The second capacitor is connected between one of a source region and a drain region and a gate electrode of the transistor. Further, the other one of the source region and the drain region and the other one of two output terminals are connected each other.

An inductive power transfer system including a synchronous drive system having a resonance control module. The resonance control module includes a primary coil module with a primary LC circuit. The resonance control module seeks and detects the resonant frequency of the primary LC circuit. The synchronous drive system further includes a switching coil amplifier for selectively energizing the primary coil to keep the primary LC circuit operating at or as close as possible to its natural resonant frequency. The inductive power transfer system may further include a secondary receiving unit. The secondary receiving unit includes a secondary LC circuit coupled with the primary LC circuit for inductively receiving power. The secondary LC circuit includes an LC filter and a rectifier unit for operating the secondary LC circuit at a mutual resonance with the primary LC circuit.

A controlled-power delivery system may operate with RF waves for supplying continuous and suitable power to a load. The controlled-power delivery system may include one or more receiving antennas, one or more rectifiers, a first boost converter, a charger, a storage element, and a second boost converter. The first boost converter may step up the rectified DC voltage obtained from the receiving antenna and rectifier to supply a suitable voltage level that can be used for charging the storage element. The second boost converter may increase the voltage from the storage element to a suitable level that may satisfy the power requirements of the load. The charger in conjunction with the first and second boost converters may be configured to allow a plurality of modes of operation for delivering power to the load and charging the storage element.

A soft-switched single-phase quasi-single-stage (QSS) bi-directional inverter / charger converts AC-DC or DC-AC. The inverter / charger comprises a push-pull inverter / rectifier on the dc-side, an isolation transformer which provides ohmic isolation and voltage scaling, two full-bridges on the ac side in cascade, a voltage clamp branch comprising a capacitive energy storage element in series with an active switch with its anti-parallel diode, a passive filter at the ac side to smooth out the high frequency switching voltage ripple at the output, and a corresponding PWM scheme to seamlessly control the converter to operate in all four quadrant operation modes in the output voltage and output current plane, and is capable of converting power in both directions.

A charging system for simultaneously charging the batteries of a plurality of battery powered vehicles. The charging includes one or more DC-DC power converters having one or more charging ports configured to plug into the batteries. The DC-DC power converters are each configured to selectively connect to more than one charging port to selectively provide for higher port power levels. The DC-DC power converters connect to an AC rectifier through a DC bus. The AC rectifier connects to an AC power source having a limited power rating. The AC charging system also has a controller that controls the operation of the DC-DC power converters such that the total power draw on the AC rectifier does not exceed the power rating. The system is further configured such that the DC-DC power converters can drain selected batteries to obtain power for charging other batteries, thus allowing for batteries to be cycled.

A wireless power receiver includes a power receiving circuit wirelessly receiving power transmitted from a wireless power transmitter so as to generate an induced current, and a rectifying-and-modulating circuit including first to eighth switches and a control unit. The control unit is operable to control operation of each of the first to eighth switches between conduction and non-conduction. Accordingly, the first to fourth switches cooperatively constitute a full-bridge rectifier for rectifying the induced current generated by the power receiving circuit, and each of the fifth to eighth switches is operable to switch synchronously with a respective one of the first to fourth switches or to became non-conducting, thereby changing an amplitude of the induced current.

In a mobile body discrimination apparatus having an interrogator apparatus and a plurality of transponders each capable of transmitting information to the interrogator apparatus by modulation of radio waves that are reflected from a transponder antenna, which can be attached to respective articles, store data concerning the articles, and transmit the data to the interrogator apparatus in response to a command signal transmitted while the transponder traverses a communication region of an antenna of the interrogator apparatus, each transponder is configured to begin sending such response data after a randomly determined time interval following reception of the command signal, thereby reducing the probability of data conflict when plural transponders are within the communication region. In addition, radio waves from a second antenna of the interrogator apparatus are directed into that communication region in the intervals between transmissions of the command signal, thereby increasing the power level of radio waves that are reflected by a transponder antenna or used by a rectifier circuit to supply power for operating the transponder circuits.

Various structures and methods for improving the performance of trench-shielded power semiconductor devices and the like are described.

A novel integrated rectifier and boost converter circuit architecture is disclosed. The rectifier architecture includes a plurality of identical half-bridge rectifiers connected to receiving antennas to convert wireless AC power into DC power. The integrated rectifier may be coupled in series with a charging inductor in a boost converter. The inductor may discharge upon operation of two micro-controller-driven switching transistors using predetermined threshold and timing scheme to turn on / off. The rectifier architecture may provide high power densities, improve efficiency at larger load currents, and may be enabled in an integrated circuit with eight RF signal inputs, eight half-bridge rectifiers, and eight DC outputs ganged together as single feed into the boost converter. The rectifier circuit topology may include a comparator driven by the boost controller with a proprietary algorithm which suits control for a maximum power point tracking functionality, and an external micro-controller for additional control of the boost converter.

The present invention provides a primary-side flyback power converter that supplies a constant voltage output and a constant current output. To generate a well-regulated output voltage under varying load conditions, a PWM controller is included in the power converter in order to generate a PWM signal controlling a switching transistor in response to a flyback voltage sampled from a first primary winding of the power supply transformer. Several improvements are included in this present invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior-art flyback power converters. Firstly, the flyback energy of the first primary winding is used as a DC power source for the PWM controller in order to reduce power consumption. A double sample amplifier samples the flyback voltage just before the transformer current drops to zero. Moreover, an offset current is pulled from a detection input of the double sample amplifier in order to generate a more accurate DC output voltage. The offset current is generated in response to the temperature in order to compensate for temperature-induced voltage fluctuations across the output rectifier. Ultimately, in order to maintain a constant output current, the PWM controller modulates the switching frequency in response to the output voltage.

When supplying a power from a base station to a terminal station on radio and a distance from a base station to a terminal station is long, it becomes impossible for the terminal station to rectify the power. The feature of the present invention is found in a wireless communication system in which the peak value and duty ratio of a transmission power are controlled simultaneously, keeping the transmission power of a base station below a fixed value, thereby allowing a voltage to be applied to a diode, which is a component of a rectifier circuit possessed by a terminal station, always in excess of a threshold voltage of the diode, and energy is exchanged between the base station and the terminal station below a limit power.

Methods of operating semiconductor memory devices with floating body transistors, using a silicon controlled rectifier principle are provided, as are semiconductor memory devices for performing such operations. A method of maintaining the data state of a semiconductor dynamic random access memory cell is provided, wherein the memory cell comprises a substrate being made of a material having a first conductivity type selected from p-type conductivity type and n-type conductivity type; a first region having a second conductivity type selected from the p-type and n-type conductivity types, the second conductivity type being different from the first conductivity type; a second region having the second conductivity type, the second region being spaced apart from the first region; a buried layer in the substrate below the first and second regions, spaced apart from the first and second regions and having the second conductivity type; a body region formed between the first and second regions and the buried layer, the body region having the first conductivity type; and a gate positioned between the first and second regions and adjacent the body region. The memory cell is configured to store a first data state which corresponds to a first charge in the body region in a first configuration, and a second data state which corresponds to a second charge in the body region in a second configuration. The method includes: providing the memory cell storing one of the first and second data states; and applying a positive voltage to a substrate terminal connected to the substrate beneath the buried layer, wherein when the body region is in the first state, the body region turns on a silicon controlled rectifier device of the cell and current flows through the device to maintain configuration of the memory cell in the first memory state, and wherein when the memory cell is in the second state, the body region does not turn on the silicon controlled rectifier device, current does not flow, and a blocking operation results, causing the body to maintain the second memory state.